Mr Hague, current leader of the House of Commons, says Portsmouth South is a key seat for the Tories and is crucial to the party securing majority control.

And he said the decision was in the hands of voters what form of government they really wanted to see come May 8.

‘Portsmouth South is one of the constituencies which will decide what we will get in government at the end of next week,’ he said.

‘A Labour government propped up by the SNP will cause all sorts of problems - they would put up taxes in England, increase spending in Scotland and reduce our defences - which is bad news for people in Portsmouth.’

Portsmouth South is one of the constituencies which will decide what we will get in government at the end of next week.

William Hague, leader of the House of Commons

Mr Hague chatted to shoppers in Commercial Road and gave his support to Conservative candidate Flick Drummond as she seeks to become the next MP for Portsmouth South.

Asked whether he thinks small parties will cause a ‘watershed moment’ at the general election and hold the balance of power in government, Mr Hague said: ‘Some of the smaller parties can hold the balance of power.

‘But most smaller parties can’t succeed in most places.

‘It’s only the SNP capable of winning a large number of seats as one of the smaller parties.

William Hague pauses during the campaigning to have his picture taken with a passer-by

‘This is a party that wants to break up the UK then having a role in running the UK.

‘We need to gain 23 seats to hold a majority in government and we can do that here in Portsmouth South.’

Mr Hague is the latest in a line of politicians to visit the area recently to promote election candidates.

Foreign secretary Philip Hammond and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg have both been in the city in recent weeks to bolster their parties’ campaigns.

When asked to address comments made by Mr Clegg that people should not believe anything Mrs Drummond says, Mr Hague said: ‘The Lib Dems have had their own problems in the party. I have not come here to attack them. I know we have got a good candidate, who has worked at this for years.’